GOAL 1: Create a high quality campus community landscape environment which affords   outdoor comfort, security and “sense of place”. Create a rich visual quality exemplifying the diversity of Central Florida's native environments and educational experiences.

OBJECTIVE 1.1: By 2001-2002 the University shall develop and implement a Landscape Master Plan for the University of Central Florida campus.

POLICY 1.1.1: Reinforce the important elements of the spatial organization defined in the Master Plan by developing an educational landscape character and experience for the areas outlined on the Landscape Master Plan. This distinctive landscape can be characterized by:

·        Creating quads, plazas and common areas for student interaction and places for destination.

·        Use of plant species that are indigenous to the natural plant communities of the UCF area. Native plantings which are intended to recreate a semblance of the original communities shall utilize plants typical of the scrub and sandhill.

·        Limited plant palette-contrast to native materials.

·        Use of trees of like species in large groups and masses. Trees planted to highlight and identify various campus signatures or other landscape treatments shall be restricted and reserved for species that are native to the UCF area.

·        Limited use of unusual horticultural specimen. In cases where non-invasive, exotic plants are used to enhance the landscape, plantings will be limited to those non-invasive species that are able to resist periods of drought and that are expected to require little use of fertilizer and pesticides.

·        Selective removal or relocation of existing trees to allow spatial definition.

·        Existing non-native invasive plants (whether grasses, trees or shrubs) may be designated for removal from the campus grounds if such exotics are listed on the Exotic Pest Plant Council's list of "Florida's Most Invasive Species". As these species are located on the campus, UCF staff shall coordinate with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and other appropriate governmental entities to ensure the proper removal and disposal of these exotic species.

·        Limited use of shrubs, hedges and ground cover.

·        Use of xeriscape principles and cover to conserve water and reduce chemical use.

POLICY 1.1.2: Develop the campus landscape outside of the institutional zone with the following criteria outlined and action items stated within Landscape Master Plan:

·        Plant palette of indigenous plant material selected for availability and maintenance requirements.

·        Use of trees in masses of like species to small groupings of 3-5 trees.

·        Use of plants in informal groupings.

·        Limited use of shrub masses.

POLICY 1.1.3: Develop a signature landscape treatment for all of the campus entrances, edges and corners which will reflect the University of Central Florida landscape character. Consider selecting signature landscape treatments that represent the campuses diverse native landscape.

POLICY 1.1.4: Reinforce and improve circulation hierarchy by developing distinct landscapes for each road type, intersections and the pedestrian/tram/service loop.

POLICY 1.1.5: Develop design and construction criteria to preserve and enhance existing native vegetation in all areas adjacent to proposed development of the northern entrance road and the completion of the loop road.

POLICY 1.1.6: Maintain and protect from encroachment the existing natural preserve and proposed arboretum while encouraging appropriate access to contribute to the high quality campus landscape setting.

POLICY 1.1.7: Provide tree canopy in all surface parking lots where possible while maintaining safety visibility and efficient security lighting

POLICY 1.1.8: Tree selection and location shall promote safety and security, enhance natural environment, provide shade for vehicles and pedestrians and minimize maintenance requirements.

POLICY 1.1.9: Reinforce, integrate and improve existing and proposed landscape mall and axis, to experience the campus as a defined sequence of unique landscapes. Define edges of malls with existing plant material specified for each mall outlined within Landscape Master Plan.

POLICY 1.1.10: Incorporate appropriate "theme courtyards" as an opportunity for horticultural education, campus wayfinding and memorable campus spatial images, and to de-emphasize the pedestrian loop as a spatial organizational element.

POLICY 1.1.11: The University shall develop landscape in housing areas as follows:

POLICY 1.1.12: The University shall show the location of future buildings so as to indicate the open spaces depicted in the Landscape Concept Plan.

POLICY 1.1.13: Standardized bicycle rack style and placement shall be used in order to achieve simplicity and uniformity. Selection of the standardized bicycle racks shall be based on efficiency, ease of use, tamper resistance, maintenance, and accessibility. Bicycle facilities should be located convenient to academic and housing areas, in a secure location. Landscape treatment shall consist of canopy trees adjacent for shade and a durable, hard paved (preferably concrete) permanent surface under the bicycle rack.

POLICY 1.1.14: Public transportation facilities should be sited to allow for visibility and ease of access, both pedestrian and vehicular. The design of the shelter should be consistent with the architectural guidelines. Landscape treatment should provide shade if not provided by shelter.

POLICY 1.1.15: Emergency access facilities shall be kept clear of any impeding landscape.

POLICY 1.1.16: All trash collection facilities shall be screened from pedestrian or vehicular traffic with either fence or wall consistent with architecture guidelines or evergreen plant material.

POLICY 1.1.17: Maintenance facilities shall be screened from pedestrian or vehicular traffic with fence, wall or evergreen plant material.

POLICY 1.1.18: Projects with an associated public art budget and campus art projects should be coordinated within the design process and University of Central Florida’s Public Art Committee to facilitate location, theme, and integration.

POLICY 1.1.19: The summary analysis of existing landscape and hardscape conditions and quality prepared within the Landscape Master Plan shall be used to determine deficiencies to be added to University’s Physical Plant Division’s landscape improvement projects list. 

POLICY 1.1.20: Within one year after adoption of Landscape Master Plan, the campus master plan shall be amended to include revised design concepts and standards.

OBJECTIVE 1.2: Modify and adopt a revised landscape design guidelines upon Master Plan adoption, adding recommendations and revisions recommended within Landscape Master Plan.

POLICY 1.2.1: In concurrence with the Landscape Master Plan incorporate use of landscape material that blends with the natural, native surrounding plant palette. Organize and structure native materials within campus environment to create a sense of order and wayfinding.

POLICY 1.2.2: Within one year after adoption, the campus master plan shall be amended to include the revised plant material list and additional treatments stated within Landscape Design Guidelines.

POLICY 1.2.3: The University shall monitor conformance of future construction projects with revised Landscape Design Guidelines and Landscape Master Plan through University design review procedures.

OBJECTIVE 1.3: Adopt standards for overall campus furnishings, lighting fixtures and graphics depicted within Landscape Master Plan.

POLICY 1.3.1 Projects which may enhance campus safety, along with security and disabled accessibility shall be identified and prioritized according to the following:

  1. Pedestrian/vehicular/bicycle conflicts;

  2. Visibility;

  3. Removal of barriers ; and

  4. Enhanced lighting.

POLICY 1.3.2 The University of Central Florida Director of Facilities Planning will establish administrative procedures within the University's administrative structure (e.g. a design review process) to ensure the coordination of the landscape, furnishings and graphics on the campus in accordance with the adopted guidelines. Within one year after adoption, the campus master plan shall be amended to include these procedures.

OBJECTIVE 1.4: Adopt standards for campus edge treatments.

POLICY 1.4.1 With accordance of Conservation Management Plan and Landscape Master Plan, the University shall preserve existing natural buffer areas along campus edges. The University shall prohibit development for a 200' buffer area and establish understory (e.g. shrubs and ground cover) plantings of indigenous plant material in natural arrangements in areas where it has been removed.

POLICY 1.4.2 Create a signature architectural and landscape entry statement that enhances and contrasts the natural buffer/campus edge.

OBJECTIVE 1.5: Adopt standards for landscape edge treatments surrounding ponds, lakes and stormwater features.

POLICY 1.5.1: Retention lakes and drainage elements shall conform to the requirements of the local water management district regarding side slopes and wetland mitigation areas.

POLICY 1.5.2: The configuration of retention lakes shall be natural and curvilinear in outline. Rectilinear and pure geometric forms are not permitted. Wherever possible, side slopes shall vary and provide smooth transitions to existing grades. Gentle landforms around the lake shall reinforce the natural" context.

POLICY 1.5.3: Whenever possible, retention areas shall be incorporated into one single basin instead of multiple basins. Larger basins are more efficient relative to space and volumetrics. Single basins also avoid the appearance of the project area surrounded by a depressed moat".

POLICY 1.5.4: Landscape treatment for retention lakes shall respect maintenance and access setbacks but otherwise be set into a natural, existing vegetative context or planted with native material.

OBJECTIVE 1.6: Implement the landscape concept plan by allocating proportional campus landscape costs to programmed building costs for this period and by seeking supplemental funding allocated for landscape improvements.

POLICY 1.6.1: Landscape budgets shall be an integral and inviolate portion of new construction budgets, and shall be based upon a percentage of total construction costs. Funds allocated for landscape improvements shall not be redirected to fulfill funding shortages in other areas of the construction project.

POLICY 1.6.2: Landscape improvements that are independent from new building construction shall be considered as stand-alone or independent projects with respect to funding and capital expenditure programming .

POLICY 1.6.3: Apply the following descending priorities for implementing components of the Landscape Master Plan.

·        Priority 1 Entrances and Intersections

·        Priority 2 Malls and Courtyards

·        Priority 3 Service/Pedestrian/Tram Loop

·        Priority 4 Loop Road

·        Priority 5 Parking Lots

POLICY 1.6.4: The University shall establish policies and procedures to retain landscape architects independently of architects for campus building, for the design and implementation of components of the Landscape Master Plan. The adopted campus master plan shall be amended to include these procedures.

POLICY 1.6.5: The University shall establish policies and procedures to seek separate funding mechanisms and revenue sources specifically targeted for landscape improvements as outlined in Master Plan. The adopted campus master plan shall be amended to include these procedures.

POLICY 1.6.6: The University shall complete a campus-wide analysis to document disabled conflicts and constraints imposed by landscape features. The adopted campus master plan shall be amended to include these procedures.